Hydraulic dredging device



Dev. 21 1926. 1,611,478 G. B. MASSEY i v HYDRAULIC DREDGING'DEVICE Y K A `Filed July 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l f -f 1 n k 131W Q QQ e k1 1 0 E Q 21 l .u QQ l 15hno) o 'nza CQ 1 t I i Q L s. D Y (o Q \l ,yg W417gnva9 'c7/vb@ Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,478 G. B. MASSEY l HYDRAULIC DREDGING DEVICE 1 A Filed July 18,A 1923 2 sheets-sheet 2 GEOPGE B, MASSEY Patented Dec. 21,1926.

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GEORGE B. MASSEY, F CHIIJGAG,V ILLINOIS.

HYDRAULIC DREDGING DEVICE.

Application filed July 18, 1923. Seriall\1o.`(a`52,879.V

This invention relates to hydraulic suction dredges, and especially to devices of this character adapted for separa-ting different grades of material excavated, as sometimes required, especially when suchA materials are to be used for commercial purposes.

In the hydraulic transportation of solids in pipes it isusual, in addition to lateral motion, to give the solids vertical translat-ion. Thus, in pumping sand from a sand pit up to the separators in a screen house, a considerable static head has to be overcome. Usually the sand is deposited in open hoppers over the screens and the water runs away.

Incident to my invention, I make the hoppers air tight, except for the discharge valve at the bottom, and I arrange to carry the waterback to the source `in the pit through an air tight pipe, which will greatly reduce the static head at a slightincrease of friction head. In other words, I provide a siphon which deposits at the highest point the sand land such material carried up from the discharge of the rotary pump. The two columns of water balance each other and t-he work done consists in overcoming the friction inthe pipes due to the velocity, andV in lifting the solids. The sand valve at the bottom of the hopper is arranged so as to open when the depth and weight of sand has reached a certain amount and to close when a certain part of the sand has been released, Or a screw or other'conveyor can be used of suiiicient length to make a practically air-tight stop and discharge sand fron'i the hopper at avfixed rate. The effect of any appreciable leakage at the valve is to draw in air which displaces the water inthe sand near the opening and tends to dry fout the sand to some extent which is desir* able for screening. Moreover the stream of water ruiming away from the hopper through the air-tight pipe will tend to carry ofi' in suspension clay and sticks, which also is desirable.

The main objects of this invention are to minimize or eliminate a static head l against the pump or other elevator; to provide a more efficient combination and arrangement of parts or members; to provide a dredge and hopper system adapted to operate in allarge measure siphonically andV automatically; to provide in a siphonic dredge system means in the supply pipe between the dredge and .hopper for urging the water and material forwardly Vand upwardly into the hopper, and a downwardly extend ing overow pipe adapted and arranged to serve continuously as a suction member to reduce the work required of the pump; and to provide a plurality of hoppers and equipnient therefor adaptedfor automatic operation to separate and collect the several size grades of material handled.

AnY illustrative two hopper, embodiment of this invention is shown on the first sheet of drawings, and another embodiment is shown on the second sheet of drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation view of a multiple hopper separating systemfwith a tilting valve mechanism for each hoppern Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticview showinga tilting hopper and means for screening the -material discharged from the hopper.

Fig,` 4f' is a plan of the hopper on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In the construction shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the hoppers 1 and 2 are mounted on the shore, where they are supported in an elevated position, by a framework, not shown, so as to permit dumping into bins,cars or trucks, as will be understood. The elevator unitV 3, in the form of an electricmotor driven centrifugal pump, is mounted on a f scow 4, which may be anchored over the area tobe dredged. A suction pipe 5 extends from'the pump down tothe material to be dredged, a force pipe 6 extends up to the first hopper' 1, and a-siphon pipe 7 extends from the last hopper 2 down and back to the level of the water, the discharge end 8 being submerged somewhatfto prevent possible vadmission of air and to assure full 'maximum effect of the siphon.

The hoppers, two or more, are arranged side by side and are connected by apassageway vfor the materialand water. In order that the coarse materials may be carried over from the first hopper -to the next, a

screening conduit 9 extends vfrom pipe 6 tl'irough hopper '1 over to hopper 2. vThis conduit lets the-sand escape into hopper 1,

Abut all gravel. is carried Yover to hopper 2'.

The sifting member -9 comprises a cylin` drical arrangement of longitudinally disposed horizontal bars 10. the ends of which are set, in'rings llseeured to the hopper.

The material discharge port 12 of each luk) hopper Vis normally closed by a valve closure` v 13, each having a long leverage arm 14 pivoted at 15' medially, near the valve plate, to a bracket 16 fixed on the hopper. On the opposite end of each arm 1i' is a weight 17 which is slida-bly adjustable along the length off said arm, as indicated at 13, to control the closure of" said valve, according to the amount of solid material collected in the corresponding hopper.

In operation the hoppers remain closed until material collects, sand in hopper 1 and gravelA in hopper 2, suf'licient to trip the valve against the opposition of the counter weight 17. The collected material, or a substantial part oi' it, then rushes outV and releases the pressure on the valve which is then quickly restored by weight 17.. Although some air, more or less, rushes in at 12 during the hopper discharge, the effect is inappreciable, and the little air dmitted escapes with the water through pipe 7L It is to be noted that the operation is continuously automatic and normally. requires no attention more than to see that the suction feed nozzle 19 is kept in due dre( ging position, as may be accomplished with a derrick or the like, not shown, as will be understood.

Referring to the tilting' hopper construe# tion shown by Figs. 3 and L1, the hopper 2O is supported adjacent to the top by a pair of fixed brackets 21 having pivots 22 near the back edge of the hopper, and a pair of levers 23 secured to pivots 24: near the Yfront edge.

Said levers are Jfulcrumed medically, as at 25,

on brackets 26 and are provided with adj'ustable weights 23".. Said levers are slotted as at 27 to accommodate the necessary play for pivots 25. The hopper has a port 23 in the lbweipart of its vertical face 29, which port is normally closed by the stationary bar 30, and opened by the downward and rearward tilting of the hopper in dumping. The inclined chute 31' having a screen bottom at 32, receives the mixed material coll'ectedi by hopper 2O and separates it according' to the mesh ot screen 32. In this instanceV the water inlet and outlet pipes 33 and 34 are both connected through the back side of hopper 20 near the top. A partition 20 extends a Vshort distance between the inlet and outlet regions to assure sufficient opportunity for the sand and gravel to settle from the current of water before it enters pipe 34C. lfn order to accommodate free tilting of the hopper the pipe connections include flexible sections 35, as for instance, rubber hose, disposed side by side, a support being provided at 36 tor' the adjacent ends of the pipes 33 and 3l. Pipe 33 is connected to a pump 37 and an intake nozzle 38, as .in Fig. 1, and pipe 311 terminates under water.

linl operation the hopper 2O is held against the portV closure bar 30 by means of the lever 3 and weight 23. But when sufficient material collects in said hopper it swings back, toward the right in Fig. 3, and so opens the discharge port 23. As soon as the load in hopper 20 is sui'liciently diminished the hopper, urged by weights 23', swings b ck against bar 3f) and closes the port 28.

V1n both instances, as will be seen, the hoppers are self emptying by gravity, the siphonic eil'ect is inappreciably affected by the hopper action, and the control is automatic, and substantially continuous.

1 have shown and described several specii'ic embodiments oiapparatus and connections thereof f'or carrying out my invention herein set forth, but it is to be understood that numerous details ot'the constructions and connections shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit ot this invention as defined by the following claims: Y

l claim- 1. An automatic dredging and separating device ot the character described comprising in combination a plurality of material collecting hoppers connected in series, an inlet pipe through which water and dredged material carried thereby may be elevated and fili'scharged into the first hopper, and a downwardly extending suction outlet pipe connected to the last hopper for the Water to discharge through, said hoppers having materia discharge ports with closure means therefor, and screening means arranged substantially as an extension of the inlet pipe extending through the first hopper, andsaid hoppers, pipes and connections therefor normally being substantially air tight, so that in operation said pipes may function siphonically.

An aiiitomatic dredge device of the character described comprising` in combination a plurality of settling hoppers connected in seriesI hydraulic relation for sorting the material, an inlet pipe through which `water and dredged material may be ted into the first hopper, perforate sifting means extending through the rst hopper for carrying over the coarser material to the next hopper, and a downwardly extending outlet return pipe for the water, said hoppers and their connections normally being closed substantially air tight, so that in operation said pipes may function siphonically.

3. An automatic dredging and separating device of the character described comprising in combination a plurality ot material collecting hoppers connected inA series, an inlet pipe through which water and dredged material carried thereby may be elevated and discharged into or through the first hopper, depending on the texture of the material, and a downwardly extending' suction outlet pipe connected to the last hopper for the Water to discharge through,lsaid hoppers having material discharge ports with normally shut gravity operated closure means therefor, and screening means arranged Substantially as an extension of the inlet pipe extendingl through the first hopper, and said hoppers, pipes and connections therefor normally being substantially air tight, so that in operation said pipes may function siphonically.

4. An automatic dredge device ot the character described comprising in combination a plurality of gravity emptying settlinghoppers connected in series hydraulic relation for sorting the material, an inlet pipe through which Water and dredged material may be fed into the rst hopper, perforatesifting means extending through the rst hopper tor carrying over the' coarser material to the next hopper, and a downwardly extending outlet return pipe for the Water, said hoppers and their connections normall being-*closed substantially air tight, so that in operation said pipes may function siphonically, said hoppers having. in their lower parts each an outlet for the dredged and sorted materials, and mutually independent closure means for said outlets, Which closure means are so mutually related to said hoppers as to keep out excessive air and so maintain a suilicient vacuum to render the siphonic action continuously effective.

Signed at Chicago this 16th day of July, 1928.

GEORGE B. MASSEY. 

